Musical Comedy star Dorothy Dickson in a rare 1984 TV interview скачать в хорошем качестве

Musical Comedy star Dorothy Dickson in a rare 1984 TV interview

On 3rd June 1984, a charity event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of D-Day and the opening of the London version of the Stage Door Canteen was presented at the Lyceum Theatre, London. London's Stage Door Canteen in Piccadilly was run by the NAAFI (Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes) and passing showbiz stars 'dropped in' to perform, supported by young performers, often themselves in uniform. On one famous night in September 1944, the cast included Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Jack Buchanan, Beatrice Lillie and opera star Joan Hammond. In London, the Canteen continued for a few years after the war and in 1946 an 11 year old Julie Andrews sang the 'Polonaise' from Mignon before the Queen (later Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother) and Princess Margaret. The event shown here was broadcast by the BBC, and among the stars presented in the programme was 90 year old stage and film star Dorothy Dickson (July 25, 1893 – September 25, 1995) making a rare television appearance. Miss Dickson was one of the instigators of the original London Stage Door Canteen in 1944, as is explained in this clip. Dorothy Dickson was born in Kansas City, in 1893. In 1914 she married Carl Hyson and the two lived in Chicago where he sold real estate. The couple got swept up in the Castle ballroom dance craze, at the amateur level at first, but they were soon dancing professionally in night clubs and vaudeville. By 1917 they were in New York and appearing in Revues and Musical Comedies on Broadway in addition to vaudeville and clubs. They were in half a dozen shows including Oh Boy (1917) and the Ziegfeld Follies up until 1920. In 1921, their manager persuaded them to take on London. It was there that Dickson became a major star of the West End, acting and singing now as well as dancing. Dickson famously starred at the Winter Garden Theatre, London in 1921 as the title role in Jerome Kern's "Sally" in which she introduced his song "Look For The Silver Lining" to Great Britain. Later in her career, having starred in several more London Musical Comedies, Dickson appeared in a number of Ivor Novello pieces, including "Careless Rapture" (1936) and "Crest Of A Wave"(1937). Carl Hyson and Dorothy Dickson were subsequently divorced in 1936. Famously a little scatterbrained, Noel Coward said of her: "Don't be vague, be Dorothy Dickson"! During her early days on the London stage, Dickson was introduced Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, later the Queen Mother. The two became close friends and their friendship lasted until Dickson's death at age 102. Her daughter was the actress Dorothy Hyson, who was married to Sir Anthony Quayle. Actress Jenny Quayle is her granddaughter.